The district Armed Police Force has launched a drive to add border outposts with an objective to make border security more effective.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Armed Police Force, Saptari, Raju Aryal, the outposts are being added to curb illegal smuggling of goods, crime, and ensure a robust border security.

Inaugurating an outpost at Bode Barsain, in Saptari, on Sunday, DIG Aryal said that it was necessary to add the outposts as Nepal shares a 464km-long border with India in Province 2. The APF is building 17 new structures, taking the total number of border outposts to 69.

Saptari, which shares a 78 km-long open border with India, currently has six outposts. Three more outposts will be added at Belhi and Yoginiya in the district.

There will be one outpost in every 8.6km on average following the completion of the drive which will make the border security more effective, Aryal said.

“The number of outposts as per the distance is more than that of India’s,” Aryal said. “We will keep on adding more outposts as needed.”

Aryal added that there is still a confusion regarding the no man’s land at the border. “Today, for a lack of ample security, locals have been protecting the border themselves,” he said, elaborating on their plan. “In the first round, a no man’s land will be separated in Rautahat, Bara, Sarlahi and Saptari districts.”

Lately, the border police have started 24-hour patrols of the area, according to Aryal. “It’s high time that we checked on smuggling and cross-border crimes,” Aryal said. “We need to carve out a clear border line and make the border area properly managed. This latest drive is an attempt towards that end.”